The world of industrial design would have missed the talent and inspiration of Cebu's multi-awarded furniture designer and manufacturer, Kenneth Cobonpue, had he not defied his father's wishes.
The world of industrial design would have missed the talent and inspiration of Cebu's multi-awarded furniture designer and manufacturer, Kenneth Cobonpue, had he not defied his father's wishes. Most likely, the man Time magazine touted as 'rattan's first virtuoso' in 2017 would be working on an office desk rather than designing one today if he didn't follow his proverbial heart.
And most certainly, the dutiful son - who genuinely tried to tread the path his father favored - would also be unhappy and unfulfilled had he stayed the course.At the highly successful The Manila Times online forum titled, 'The New Economy is Creative,' in July, the 52-year-old drop out of Business Administration from the University of the Philippines generously shared personal anecdotes such as this as he revealed to an audience of over 3,000 viewers how his unyielding passion for toys and imaginative play as a child gifted him with all that he has and all that he is today.Invited by The Times to join an esteemed roster of guest speakers from government and the private sector, Cobonpue eagerly added his voice in the belief that the Filipino's celebrated artistry is a very potent force in uplifting individual lives and the nation's economy if adequately harnessed with both public and private support. And while his counterparts from government and leaders of other artistically-fueled industries competently delivered the figures, statistics, and studies to prove the untapped economic potential of creatives, they will surely agree that it was the designer and the very artist among them who delivered the intangible but indispensable tool of inspiration.Cobonpue was and is proof that dreams can and do come true.A son's taleFor an artist whose designs have found homes in six out of seven continents in the world , Kenneth Cobonpue will always introduce himself and his work the same way he did at The Times' Creative Forum.'I'd like to share with you my design journey - our built brand - from my home island of Cebu,' he fired away, humble amid his success but proud as ever of his Philippine roots.An engaging speaker, Cobonpue painted a very vivid picture of his childhood, growing up in an environment where a constant flurry of creativity nurtured his own day in and day out.'My mom is an interior designer and based in Cebu, and she built furniture for her clients literally at the back of our house,' he said, again, adding with pride that Betty Cobonpue was first to invent a nationally recognized and multi-awarded new technique of working with rattan as early as 1984.'I spent my childhood making my own toys, playing around with all the craftsmen at the back of our house...' he trailed off in nostalgia, 'and I just wanted my childhood to go on forever.'Clearly, his mother's son, the young Cobonpue, wanted to pursue a design-related course in college. Still, his conservative and well-meaning dad wouldn't hear of it. It was the mid-eighties, after all, and Cebuanos, whose parents sent them to Manila for college - especially from Filipino-Chinese backgrounds - were expected to come home a lawyer, a doctor, or an entrepreneur.His mom the exception, Cobonpue reluctantly went for the third option, thus his two-year stint in UP's Business Administration, by which time, as he eloquently put it, 'I couldn't take it anymore!'Left with no choice but to support his son's decision, as all good parents do, the senior Cobonpue relented, which set the young Kenneth off on an adventure beyond his wildest dreams.Design's Peter PanWhile Kenneth Cobonpue's most famous quote easily denotes a charmed life, it is wrong to believe success came easily from the design world's Peter Pan. It reads, 'Everything I do today is an extension of my creative childhood,' and it's true, but only as far as the imagining, designing, and building of his works of art. As in every journey, there were missteps and disappointments which tripped him along the way, not to mention an uphill climb to achieve what no other Filipino furniture designer had achieved or even thought to pursue before.Cobonpue's first taste of discouragement came as soon as he dropped out of UP and attempted to shift to the Fine Arts program of another university he did not name.'I failed the entrance exam because I couldn't draw well enough,' he revealed, to everyone's surprise.Not one to give up on his dream, he spent an entire year 'just learning' how to draw, after which he had the good fortune to pursue Industrial Design at the Pratt Institute of New York . More importantly, he had the talent and determination to graduate Summa Cum Laude.His excellent standing in the lead-up to graduation and, of course, his impressive diploma afforded him a wealth of experience apprenticing for some of the most renowned furniture designers and artisans in Italy and Germany as the first half of the '90s ensued. Within the same period, he made the most out of his time in Europe. He knew best to keep learning the nitty-gritty of his craft with courses in woodwork and even the business side of design, specifically in exports.Finally coming home in 1996, a genuinely armed professional of Industrial Design, with the imaginings of his creative childhood more pronounced and enhanced than before, Cobonpue joined his mother as CEO and Creative Director of Interior Crafts of the Islands, Inc. in Cebu, a post and responsibility he fulfills today, side-by-side with his eponymous brand.Road to greatnessIt would be easy from here on to simply run through the most defining and successful design collections the Philippines' Kenneth Cobonpue has shared with the rest of the world to reaffirm why the man deserves to be regarded as a design genius and visionary by the rest of the world.There is also his bevy of international recognitions - the most prestigious and historical of which is his Designer of the Year Award at the very first Asian edition of Paris' revered interior design event, Maison et Objet - to remove any misgiving that the Industrial Design is all the better with the work and aesthetic of the Philippines' prolific Kenneth Cobonpue.But in inviting him to show budding creatives at The Manila Times forum the ways they can harness their artistry using his own career blueprint as an example, it became apparent that it took more than Cobonpue's boundless creativity and breathtaking craftsmanship to bring him the kind of success he savors today. Because no matter how talented and revolutionary a person may be, certain qualities and specific attitudes need to be in the mix for a creative to transcend into greatness.In Cobonpue's case, it was - and remains to be - his immovable commitment to originality that essentially gave him a shot just to live out his passion for creating in the first place. Without this very principled and practical approach in forging a professional career in industrial design, he would have surely had a better shot at standing out in business as his father had imagined.Instead, Cobonpue was determined to 'create something different, unique in the world of design.''I looked at nature, and what makes nature really beautiful is this transparence when you go to the forest - the light that comes through between the trees - which makes really beautiful patterns,' he imparted.Secondly, he chose to work with indigenous materials such as rattan and abaca, not only for practicality and sustainability but also for another critical, creative mindset establishing a unique identity in designs. A proud Cebuano and Filipino Cobonpue needn't look far. His choice of materials truly set him apart in international design and even turned him into a champion of countless local farmers in the country.Third, Cobonpue has constantly challenged the norms in his craft, unthinkably weaving his star materials with all sorts of metals, and in the process churning out the Pigalle, for example - lounge chairs whose soft and feminine curves are achieved by hand tying strands of abaca rope as many as 3,000 times above a steel frame. The Korean Museum of Modern Art could only describe the revolutionary design and craftsmanship as a perfect computer rendering come to life.The same can be said for his triumph at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, the world's most influential design show. For boldly transcending his area of expertise, he floored the likes of Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz when he built a full-sized car made of bamboo, rattan and carbon fiber. Called the Phoenix, it quickly became the event centerpiece in 2005 and saw Cobonpue accepting invitations from iconic car makers to speak to their designers on the viability and benefits of incorporating natural materials in transportation.Lastly, it is Cobonpue's painful realization that for a creative to truly succeed, it is imperative for him to build a brand and establish ownership of his work. Otherwise, every genius idea and every awe-inspired vision will simply go to waste.'Once I had all these very unique different collections around the world - my open, transparent designs - I realized I had to create my own brand name to protect my designs. This was unheard of at that time because every furniture manufacturer would go [and produce] under different names and brands, so as far as Philippine industrial designers go, we were nameless and faceless,' Cobonpue explained.In a word, the consequence of every artist who doesn't stake their rightful ownership for work is piracy.'It was a very difficult time for me because [other manufacturers] were free to take my design and label them under theirs. They wouldn't take my [trademarked] designs. I lost big contracts and companies that used to buy from me for about two years.'Still, I persisted, and slowly, it paid off. People who never bought furniture from the Philippines started to come to me. We also started to attract these boutique and high-end buyers of Italian furniture, and it went on from there,' he modestly added.But as the world knows, Kenneth Cobonpue pieces now adorn the homes of European royalties and Hollywood celebrities. Brad Pitt sleeps on a Cobonpue Voyager bed. Disney's 'Star Wars' can claim to be the first-ever movie franchise to have its own line of furniture - in a trademarked collaboration - with Kenneth Cobonpue.Beyond the glitter and glamor, the experience of luxury in countless luxury hotels and resorts worldwide - from Costa Rica to Portugal to Switzerland - is heightened because of the art and craftsmanship of the talented, determined, and wise Cebuano.As the list of where in the world exists a Cobonpue grew longer and longer, the man behind the inimitable aesthetic and workmanship was only happy to add, 'So, there's a bit of Filipino in all of these beautiful and wonderful destinations around the world.'Too modest to lay claim to the whole truth, he no longer said at the forum that it has always been his sworn intention to bring not just his own, but the entire design industry of which he is part, to the global arena.In a follow-up email exchange with The Sunday Times Magazine, Cobonpue thoughtfully wrote, 'I can't be a Lone Ranger in the world of design. I want Filipino design to be recognized globally. But I believe more things need to be done to make the creative industry a significant driver of the Philippine economy, just as I am convinced that Filipinos are more creative than anyone in the world and even have the sense of humor to back it up.'Why ''With a clear and detailed picture of Kenneth Cobonpue's 35-year-career as an industrial designer, it became much too compelling for The Sunday Times Magazine to conclude this feature with the same intent as the online forum. That is, for Cobonpue's story to 'merely' encourage brilliant creatives to make the most out of their God-given talents.For in placing his achievements side by side with the highest honor a Filipino artist can ever achieve in the country, Kenneth Cobonpue, though only 52, ticks every criterion to be named a National Artist and deserves a nomination at the very least. In the span of three and a half decades, among others, there is no doubt the man has 'made significant contributions to the country's cultural heritage,' with his uniquely Filipino body of work; likewise satisfying to a great degree the criterion of 'promo[ting] creative expression as significant to the development of a national cultural identity.'Even more so, with his global renown, he has successfully taken the 'Filipino artistic accomplishment [to its] highest level' while devotedly persevering to 'dedicate his life to [his] work, forge new paths, and directions for future generations of Filipino artists.'So for The Sunday Times Magazine, it is Kenneth Cobonpue's time. After all, he is, in every sense, a National Artist in word and deed already. Yet, for all of his contribution to Filipino heritage, identity, and global recognition, the immensely successful and inspiring creative hardly seems to acknowledge the possibility, if at all, in any of his interviews. Perhaps it's because he may have already received the reward that matters most to him.His answer to The Sunday Times Magazine's question of how his father ultimately reacted to his success says as much.A dutiful son, then and now, he poignantly wrote, 'He, unfortunately, passed away when I was still studying in Germany, and he never saw the fruits of my labor when he was still alive.'My father invented the name 'Co-bon-pue' by combining his Chinese [family] name and surname. Cobonpue is a difficult name to pronounce and was the object of ridicule in school when I was growing up. But my father was very proud of it because it was unique in the world.'I was hesitant to use it on my furniture at the start because it was difficult to remember, and name recall was impossible - a no-no in branding. I explained this predicament to my American partner, and he said, 'We will know if we're successful when the world learns how to pronounce your name.' Thus, the Cobonpue brand was born, and I am sure my father is smiling down on me from heaven right now.'Indeed he is.***Nominations to the National Artist Awards take place every three years; the last one was held in 2020. Besides advocating Philippine design and indigenous materials in the global stage and seeking to harness a new breed of creatives to ensure the future of industrial design in the country, Kenneth Cobonpue has also accepted government appointments akin to his goals. In 2010, Cobonpue was one of the recipients of The Manila Times' Dr. Jose P Rizal Awards, given to Filipino-Chinese achievers.In his own words - Cobonpue's design milestones1998: 'I created my first design, Yin Yang. It's a boxy, simple open-frame using rattan and steel. If you put in a balcony, it doesn't block the entire view - it allows the light to come through [so] when you see the shadows on the ground, it [creates] beautiful patterns.'1999: 'My next design, Balou, is an armchair named after the bear in 'Jungle Book.' I saw then that when you bend rattan it will be even stronger, so [I incorporated it] in my [succeeding] designs.'2000: 'My third design was called the Pigalle. This is made out of hand-sculpted steel and abaca rope, where as many as three thousand knots are used. This is a revolutionary design because it looks like a computer rendering.'2001: 'I've always been fascinated by people who live and would work off boats and [out of that] I made this design called the Voyage Bed. This is a bed which I have Hollywood to thank for - Brad Pitt bought this bed; Maroon 5 used it in their music video - and people began to be interested in what I was doing.'2003: 'The Tilt armchair is made out of American walnut. It's like building a miniature house. It is cut at several angles, there are no screws, no nails, and they are all done very precisely.'2004: 'Inspiration comes from everywhere. Even the Coke can became an inspiration in one of my most celebrated designs called Lolah. It won the Design for Asia Award in Hong Kong.'2009: 'Bloom is also a breakthrough design. It is one of our best-selling products today. The labor that goes into making it is like making a gown.'2011: 'I designed other things aside from furniture because I believe what I've discovered, the aesthetic, applies to everything. I wanted to exhibit in one of the most important design shows in the world, Salone del Mobile in Milan. I knew I had to impress them with something they have never seen before, so I built a full-size car made out of bamboo, rattan, carbon fiber called the Phoenix.'2018: 'The Peacock Easy Chair is my interpretation of the traditional Filipino chair. This won an award in 2018 in Las Vegas [Best Seating award in the Individual Seating Lounge] beating 3,000 other entries.'2018: 'Disney asked me to design furniture for them, and I told them I don't design furniture without my name on it. So, they agreed that we could co-brand Star Wars and Kenneth Cobonpue. This was a first for them.'
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